Hey there, race fans! Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when a big Formula 1 team like Red Bull decides on its drivers for the next season? Well, buckle up, because we’ve got some juicy details about why Red Bull is taking its sweet time deciding Sergio Perez’s future with the team.
So, what’s the big deal? Why can’t Red Bull just give Perez a thumbs up or down for next season? It all comes down to performance, and this past weekend at Imola really highlighted the situation. While Perez struggled, his teammate Yuki Tsunoda was on fire, making everyone sit up and take notice.
Red Bull had to tweak their car setup to handle the tricky kerbs at the Imola track, which definitely wasn’t easy. Perez had a rough time in FP3, crashing and causing a bit of a mess. This meant Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s superstar, went into qualifying without doing any practice laps on soft tyres. Despite this, Verstappen still managed to snag pole position.
Perez, on the other hand, didn’t have such luck. He blamed switching between old and new soft tyres for his mistake at the Tosa hairpin, which cost him dearly. He didn’t even make it to Q2. Meanwhile, Tsunoda was shining bright, finishing third in FP2 and matching that in Q2. His final lap in Q3 wasn’t perfect, but he still ended up in seventh place, even beating Lewis Hamilton! Talk about impressive!
“The team gave me such a nice car since FP1 and [I’ve been] feeling confident throughout the week,” Tsunoda said. “Without that, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this [result] on one set [of tyres] in Q2. Very happy and thanks to them. To be honest, I didn’t expect this much performance from the car, so it’s hard to tell. Normally we struggle in the high speed, but we see a big difference compared to the previous races compared to the top five teams.”
Perez, reflecting on his performance, explained, “Unfortunately, my first lap in Q1 wasn’t ideal. We thought we were not safe so we put another set of new tyres on and by doing that it basically meant I was on scrubbed tyres for my final run of quali. When I put the new tyre on in Q2, I picked up a lot of rear grip and I went straight into Turn 7 [Tosa], lost two-and-a-half tenths which, given the margins were extremely tight, I just didn’t make it.”
While Tsunoda looks like he’s ready to take on the world, there’s still no guarantee he’ll get promoted to the main Red Bull team in 2025. Red Bull is also considering other drivers, like Daniel Ricciardo and even Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Ricciardo has had some rough moments this season, and Sainz, although not performing as well as teammate Charles Leclerc at Imola, is seen as a strong contender.
Tsunoda has definitely made progress, and Red Bull’s advisor, Helmut Marko, has noticed Tsunoda’s calmer attitude during races. They’re working with him to avoid those ‘red mist’ moments where frustration takes over. But is it enough to secure his future with the main team? Only time will tell.
So, while Perez, Tsunoda, and others show off their skills on the track, Red Bull’s big decision for 2025 remains a mystery. Will Perez hold onto his seat, or will Tsunoda or another driver take the spotlight? One thing’s for sure: The drama both on and off the track makes Formula 1 as thrilling as ever!
In the end, it’s clear that every race counts for drivers like Perez and Tsunoda. Their performance not only affects their current standing but also shapes their future in the sport. With so many talented drivers vying for a spot on one of the top teams, Red Bull’s decision is crucial. So, stay tuned and keep your engines revved for more exciting twists and turns in the world of Formula 1!
